What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Standish
People
Population	30,964Highest	10,662Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Salem and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Standish and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.	$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Salem and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.	$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 120 in NH	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	Salem School District	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	Salem High School	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.